Can opener latch and cutter assembly



y 1959 w. J. LANDRY 2,893,117

CAN OPENER LATCH. AND CUTTER ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 27, 1957 I N V EN TOR. //////'0/77 A 400%] United States Patent CAN OPENER LATCH AND CUTTER ASSEMBLY William J. Landry, Blue Springs, Mo., assignor to John .7 C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., as trustee This invention relates to can opener cutter wheel as.- semblies and refers more particularly to such cutter wheel assemblies wherein the cutter wheel is removable from a shaft upon which it is rotatably mounted.

This application is an improvement over my Patent No. 2,647,307, issued August 4, 1953, entitled Can Opener Cutter Assembly.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opener cutter assembly having a cutter wheel which is readily and easily removable by the housewife for cleaning, sharpening and replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener with a removable cutter wheel and a locking latch therefor, the latch and cutter wheel cooperating to lock the wheel on its, mounting shaft only when the cutter wheel is properly positioned on its shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener cutter wheel construction and latching arrangement therefor which securely latches and looks a removable rotatable cutter wheel on a mounting shaft yet which does not tend to unlatch when the cutter wheel rotates in the process of cutting a can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch construction for a can opener cutter wheel mounting employing a removable cutter wheel wherein the latch assumes. an extremely convenient position relative the other parts of the can opener and additionally provides an extremely positive locking action positively securing the cutter wheel in place in all phases of the can opening process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch for a can opener cutter wheel assembly which is both simple and rugged-in construction, cheap to manufacture and has a long life under rigorous service.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a latch for a can opener cutter wheel assembly employing a removable cutter wheel wherein the latch comprises two pivotal parts mounted on and movable relative one another yet wherein there is no problem of adjustment of the latch orits parts in the engagementand disengagement thereof with the cutter wheel post.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch construction for a can opener cutter wheel assembly wherein," although the latch comprises two segments mounted on and pivotable relative one another, the latch achieves an extremely tight engagement with the post carrying the cutter wheel whereby to securely engage the latch with the post and prevent any disengagement thereof except under positive manipulation by the operator.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant invention and are to be read in conjunction therewith, an embodiment of the invention is shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

Fig. l is a side view of a can opener with the construction embodying the invention mounted thereon.

2,893,117 Patented July 7, 1959 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the can opener of Fig. 1 taken from below.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the inventive locking arrangement for the cutter wheel for the can opener shown in Fig. 1 illustrated in greater detail.

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 3 but with the latch shown disengaged from and displaced away from the cutter wheel mounting post.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cutter wheel mounting post and latch mounting post from above with the latch in the postion of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the latch and cutter wheel post combination of Fig. 3 taken from the right in Fig. 3.

The invention as hereinafter described comprises the can opener cutter assembly and latch therefor which is mounted upon a can opener 10 operated by a handle 11. Mounted on the same shaft 12 as the handle is a feed wheel 13. Rotation of the handle 11 moves the can opener cutter assembly toward and away from the feed wheel 13 in the can puncturing and engaging operation and, additionally, rotates the feed wheel 13 to move the can relative the cutter wheel in the can cutting operation. The mechanism to cause these movements is conventional and not a part of the instant invention. On an inset portion 14 of the housing of the opening is a screw 15 to which may be attached an L-shaped bracket (not shown) supporting a can top removing magnet (not shown).

Above the feed wheel 13 there is a recessed opening 16 in the can opener housing wherein is located the can opener cutter wheel and latch assembly. This assembly has a base 17 formed on a plate of the inner mechanism of'the opener on which is mounted an inclined cutter post 18. This post is enlarged at its base to form a shoulder 19 against which the cutter wheel abuts. The outer extremity of the post 18 is of reduced diameter and has near its end a circumferential groove 20 which receives the end of the locking clip, to be described. The cutter wheel consists of a bearing disc 21, a blade 22, a central post hole 23 and an annular hub 24 around the post hole on the outer blade side. Parallel to and spaced laterally of the cutter post is inclined latch mounting post 25 which also serves to engage the upper rim of a can during the can cutting operation and exert an obliquely directed downward force thereon to prevent the can from tilting, to stabilize it in upright position, and to otherwise assist in the can cutting operation.

At the end of locking clip mounting post 25 is pivotally attached the outer segment 26 of the locking clip. Flat washer 27 confines spring washer 28. against the outer face of the outermost segment 26 of the locking clip and enlarged headed stud 29 fixes the two washers and the outer segment 26 on the post 25. Operating flange 30 is fixed to the upper edge of the outer segment 26 of the locking clip normal to the outer face thereof and has front tab 31 which extends inwardly of the inner surface of said segment 26. Inner segment 32 of the locking clip is pivotally rnounted on outer segment 26 by enlarged headed shaft 33 which preferably has spring Washer or other friction producing means 34 positioned between the head of shaft 33 and segment 26. Recess 35 is formed in the free end of the inner segment 32 with the upper edge 36 thereof preferably of greater length than the lower edge 37 thereof. The width of the recess 35 is preferably only slightly greater than the diameter of the cutter shaft 18 at the groove 20. The inner portion of the recess 35 is preferably rounded so as to fit uniformly around the grooved portion 20 of shaft 18. The tab- 31 of the outer segment 26 of the locking clip overlies the inner segment upper edge 36 and operates to abut thereon when the clip is in locking position. The axis of the shaft 33 connecting the two segments 26 and 32 of the locking clip is preferably below the line connecting the 3 axes of the clip mounting shaft 25 and cutter mounting shaft 18 when the tab 31 abuts the top of the upper edge 36 of the inner segment 32 of the mounting clip to limit the downward movement of the pivoted portions of the locking clip therebetween. The distance from the portion of the outer locking clip segment 26 that abuts against the surface of the locking clip mounting shaft 25 opposite the cutter post 18 to the rounded face of the recess 35 which abuts against the grooved portion 20 of the cutter post 18 is preferably at least equal to or very slightly greater than the distance from the opposed surfaces of the locking clip mounting post 25 and the grooved portion 20 ofthe cutter post whereby,- when the locking clip is in the locked position of Fig. 3, aslight force is exerted upon the two posts by the locking clip which itself is under slight pressure therefrom. The innermost end 33a (Fig. 5) of the shaft 33 mounting the two segments of the locking clip relative one another is enlarged to form a project-ion to abut against the cutter bearing disc 21 should the cutter be reversed and improperly mounted on the cutter post, thus preventing engagement of the clip with the cutter post.

To remove the cutter wheel from its post 18, the clip is disengaged from the cutter post groove 20 and swung up to the position shown in Fig. 4. Upward force applied to the flange 30 (from the position of Fig. 3) pivots the central portions of the locking clip segments 26 and 32 upwardly between the posts 25 and 18 with the bottom edge 37 of the segment 32 bearing against the underside of the groove 20 to break the l-ockingclip in the middle. As the edge 37 clears the underside of the cutter groove, the locking clip, in its substantially right angled position of Fig. 4, is free to swing out away from the cutter wheel. If the cutter and feed wheels have been separated by predetermined rotation of the can opener handle 11, as shown in Big. 1, the cutter wheel may then be slid oif its post 18 for such purposes as cleaning, sharpening or replacing. V a

To replace the cutter wheel on its post 18 it is slipped back on the post, but in order to do so, the bearing disc 21 must be inside and the blade 22 outside. If the cutter is reversed, the locking clip cannot be lowered since the enlarged inner end 33a of the shaft 33 will contact the edge of the bearing disc 21 and prevent the clip from being moved into locking engagement with the cutter post. The annular hub 24 on the front side of the cutter wheel by abutting shoulder 19 when the cutter wheel is reversed thus prevents improperly positioning of the cutter Wheel on the post. When the cutter is properly placed on the post, with the blade to the out side, there is no hindrance to the movement of the locking clip.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombination are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinatiions. This is contemplated byand is within the scope of the claims.

with two posts mounted thereon, a cutter with a bearing disc rotatably and removably mounted on one of said posts, a groove around the cutter mounting post, a lock ing clip having two segments, the first segment pivotally mounted on the post other than the cutter mounting post, the second segment of said latch pivotally mounted on said first segment and engageable with the groove around the cutter mounting post, said clip having a projection engageable by the cutter bearing disc when the cutter is improperly mounted on the cutter post, thereby preventing latching of the clip on the cutter post.

2. A cutter assembly as in claim 1 wherein the projection engageable by the cutter bearing disc when the cutter is improperly mounted on the cutter post cornprises the means pivotally mounting the second segment of the latch on the first segment thereof.

3. A can opener cutter assembly as in claim 1 wherein the cutter has an annular hub on' the side of the blade opposite the bearing disc.

4. In a-can'opener, a body having a spindle projecting outwardly therefrom, a cutter wheel rotatably mounted on said spindle with its inner face adjacent said body, saidspindle containing a surface groove adjacent and at least substantially parallel to the outer face of said wheel, a latch having two segments, the first segment of said latch pivotally mounted on said body to swing about a first axis spaced laterally from said spindle, the second segment of said latch pivotally mounted on said first segment to swing about a second axis a distance from the first axis less than the distance from the first axis to the spindle, said second segment formed to engage the groove in the spindle, and means to limit the pivotal movement of the first segment relative the second segment when the latter is engaging the groove in the spindle and the axis of the pivotal mounting connecting the first and second segments of the latch has passed below a straight line joining the axis of the spindle and the first axis around which the first segment of the latch p'iv'ots, the means for limiting the pivotal movement of the first segment relative the second segment when the latter is engaging the groove in the spindle comprising a tab on said first segment so formed as to overlie and abut said second segment when said second segment is engaged in the groove in said spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,827,060 Albert Oct. 13, 1931 2,595,383 Irving May 6, 1952 2,806,280 Grant -s Sept. 17, 1957 

